People Are Mean

I prefer dogs and sometimes cats over people. People just don't know how to act right. They treat other people bad. When I see one of the People treat another one of the People bad, I don't like that person right away. I really get tired of how the People treat each other, too.

I hear the People always talking about bullying and being mean to People. I see it all the time. The People love to bully the Mommy. They are so dumb that they think it is funny. They say that she "deserves it." I guess it is funny to them because they have their pack, and they are so full of meanness they don't want to let her in it. In the animal world, usually the person who gets picked on is someone who is stronger than the other animals. They call her names, they gossip about her behind her back, they say it's okay for People to be mean to her. What I think is funny is that they do all of these mean things to the Mommy, and then they go to this place called Church where you are supposed to learn how to be a good person. Some of the People, especially on the days they go to church, they are even meaner to the Mommy. It's like they held it in all day, then they have to let go of their meanness on someone. Some of the People are even mean at church, so I don't think they really care about God. They only care about themselves.

The Mommy spends a lot of time by herself  and with Mosie and I. She doesn't like having to deal with the mean People all the time. She makes herself do it, though. She is one of those People that they call an extravert. That means she likes to talk to people a lot. The Daddy would even make fun of her because she would always be making a new "friend" at the grocery store, the gas station, the park. She always is talking to somebody. Even the People she doesn't know. She likes to make People feel like they are valued in the world.

The mean People told the Mommy that her business is going to be a flop, that she is never going to sell a book, that no one is ever going to give her a job. One of the People is so mean that he pretended to be her friends for years, only to find out that he never liked her. He was only friends with her to make fun of her to other People. Dogs would never do that. We either like you or we don't but we don't spend our time going out of our way to be mean to people because someone else told us to. I'm a dog, and I was friends with cats. I wasn't pretending to be friends with the cats so that I could make fun of the cats to my dog friends. I was friends with the cats because I actually liked playing with them. I know I'm not supposed to like cats, but I do. They actually are pretty cool and fun. So, why would someone be so dumb and mean to pretend to be friends with someone they don't like? As a dog, I have a short life, so I don't really have time to waste doing things like that.

The funny thing is, if the People treated dogs the way they treat the Mommy or other People, then everyone would be mad at them. No one would treat a dog that way. No one would say that it was okay for a dog to get beat up by its owner (very bad person) and that it was the dog's fault. They wouldn't ask the dog what was wrong with it and why didn't it leave. No one would take food from a dog's bowl or keep it from eating, which is the same thing they do when they keep someone from making money to support their family. If a dog barks, the People understand what that means. No one would make fun of a dog for walking. In fact, most People stop and say hello to the dog. No one would tell a dog to leave the state, leave the country, or they wish the dog would die.

No good person makes fun of a dog for crying or trying to do tricks that no one else thought they could do. The People do that to each other, though. I don't understand the idea of telling someone they are "unloveable." I hope any People who think someone else is "unloveable" doesn't have a dog. Because if someone can't even love someone of their own species, how can they love a dog? I know I am just a little dog with a little brain, but I think treating someone bad because someone else told you to, is mean and dumb. Even with other dogs, I get to know them first. I sniff them and get to know them. I have hardly sniffed or played with another dog I didn't like it.

I think the real reason People are mean to each other is they don't like themselves very much. Some People just can never be happy with themselves, and they pick on People about the things they feel bad about themselves over. I know one of the People picks on the Mommy because she is smart and was good at school. The Man made up all kinds of lies about the Mommy and even lied and said she didn't do all of these awesome things. The reason he did is because he wasn't good at school, and he lied and cheated and accused other People of being mean to him. But, they weren't. He used it as an excuse to get away with doing bad things to other People and for getting bad grades. Every time he would do bad, he would be mean to the Mommy...like how he did bad was her fault. He did bad because he did bad things, and he didn't want to admit that it was his fault. So, he was a bully and was mean.

The People are really good about barking or peeing on someone that isn't like them, because the People never want to change. They want to find someone who is different than them or maybe that keeps going even when they are mean to that person. What's even weirder still is the People who teach kids not to be bullies, but they are really, really, really big bullies. They think that taking another person's dreams is good. If they did that to a dog, locked them up in a little cage, never let them run and play or chase butterflies, or be happy, the People would be in big trouble.

I love the Mommy. She is good. She makes me breakfast, she loves me, she cuddles me, she takes care of my sister, Mosie, and I. Other People don't like her because they made up their minds not to a long time ago. They think making the Mommy not talk to anybody, picking on her on Facebook, and telling her what she can and cannot say is funny. They sit there and laugh and laugh and laugh at her behind her back. They don't know what they are missing by being friends with her because they are too busy being bad dogs.

I Don't Cook!

This morning, the Mommy woke up, and she let my sister, Mosie, and I out to go potty. Then, she fell asleep on her chair. It's supposed to be my chair, but I'm not allowed to sit on it for some reason. When she didn't let us in when I wanted in, I started barking at her, "Hey, hey, hey! Lady, let us in." After I came in, I wanted my breakfast. It was the same thing we have almost every day. Water, dog food, and cheese. Sometimes, the Mommy won't put the cheese on my dog food right away, so I sit there and give her my "doggie eye" until she does.

After breakfast, I had to tell the Mommy let Mosie and I outside, again. Mosie can't hold her potty very well. If I don't make her go outside with me, she might make a mess. Then, the Mommy will not be happy, and Mosie will not be happy because she got in trouble. Whenever Mosie gets in trouble or does a naughty, she spends the day in the Mommy's bed. The Mommy starts to feel sorry for her, goes and picks her up, and says "It's okay Mosie, we still love you!" If I do a naughty, I get told to "Go lay down!" or "Go to your bed!" I mean, the Mommy made me a bed out of memory foam, but it isn't as comfortable as the Mommy's bed.

This morning, the Mommy was feeling tired. I could tell because she didn't even have the coffee brewing, yet. I love the smell of coffee in the morning! I like how it tastes, too. One time, I drank the Mommy's coffee right out of her mug. She went to take a drink, and over half of her coffee was gone. She was like, "What happened?" I came up to her and gave her my cutest dog grin and tapped her on the arm with my paw and was like, "I drank it, and it was delicious!" The Mommy just laughed, and I was super hyper the rest of the day. I felt like a puppy again.

The Mommy finally made the coffee. Then, you know what she asked me? She asked me to make breakfast! She didn't really ask me, actually. She said, "Manny, make us breakfast." I looked at her like, sure, I will make you breakfast. I will make sure to wash my paws after I just ran through the dirt and cover my whole body with a hair net, so I don't get any hair in your food. I also will make sure I eat all of it right after I make it.

Actually, if I knew how to cook, I would make the Mommy breakfast. She has been making everyone breakfast for years, almost every day. The Mommy told me once that she doesn't really like cooking breakfast, but she likes for everyone to start off the day with a good breakfast. She does make good breakfast, too. She makes pancakes, french toast, all kinds of eggs, muffins, breakfast burritos, ham, sausage, steak, mmmm.....mmmm....mmmm. Someone even told her she should open up her own breakfast restaurant. The Mommy liked that idea, but she said she would have to hire someone else to cook in her restaurant.

Everybody Loves Me!

Sometimes when I go sit on the Mommy's lap, she will pet me and say, "Manny, everybody loves you." I just smile at her and say, "Yeah, I know." Of course, everybody loves me. I happen to be one of the best doggies ever. I know because I get told I am all the time. I know because the Mommy tells me so all the time. That's how she is. If she thinks you are awesome, she tells you. If she doesn't....then she doesn't say anything.

I have to admit, though, the Mommy doesn't think I am awesome all the time.  Like, the time that I ate her favorite shoes, chewed up toys, ripped the couch, ate a bunch of candy and kept her up all night, made a dookie by the door...those were times she did not think I was awesome. When we used to live somewhere else, I would run down the street before she got me on the leash to visit some other dog friends. The Mommy would go chasing after me in her flip flops. Then, she didn't think I was too awesome, either.

She would always come get me, though, even when I was naughty. She would pick me up and carry me like a baby. I have to admit that I secretly liked it. That's why I would do it, so she would hold me in her arms. When we got home, she would tell me I was naughty and point her finger at my nose. Still, I knew that later that day I would be snuggling next to her in the chair.

When strangers come to our house, they don't love me right away. I like to bark at them and let them know that this is my territory. They need to know that this is my house, and I live here. Also, it is my job to protect the Mommy and watch out for my little sister, Mosie. I reward myself by laying on the couch in the living room. Even then, I get in trouble. The Mommy comes in the living room, and says, "Manny get off the couch." When I don't move, she says, "Manny, I can see you. You are not invisible." Then, I stretch and slowly get down. I want her to know that I know I'm not supposed to be there, but I'm not in any big hurry to get down, either.

The one who loves me the most, I think, is my little sister, Mosie. She is a pretty awesome doggie herself.  I love to play with her, and we take naps together and everything. The Mommy calls me an Instigator when I play with Mosie, though. According to the Mommy, I do things to get Mosie in trouble. I give the Mommy my cutest dog look like, "What? Would I do that?" The Mommy says, "Manny, I don't know what you are doing, but stop doing it." I can tell you that it's not all my fault. Mosie plays like she is little and has a little brain, but she gets us into trouble, too.

Every night, I go to bed being hugged and petted and knowing that I am loved. That's probably why I wake up every morning thinking, "Today is the best day of my life!"

Introducing Mosie Moiselle as a Guest Writer

Hi! My name is Mosie Moiselle. The Mommy came up with this name because she was trying to figure out a cute French name for me. She started thinking all kinds of French words. Then, she thought I was a Madamoiselle. Then, she changed it to Mosie Moiselle. My long name is Madamoiselle Mosie Moiselle. That's a lot of words for a little dog like me to remember, so I just go by Mosie.

In case you are wondering why I am writing on Manny's blog, it's because he is my brother. He said that I could write something. I think he really wanted me to do it so everyone can see how silly I am. I am a silly girl. I like to play and have fun.

One of my favorite things to do is prance around and show off my cute tail to everyone! I am part Pomeranian...and something else. The Mommy thinks I am a Pomchi, part Pomeranian and part long-haired Chihuahua. The vet told her she could get me DNA tested if she wanted to find out. She looked at me like maybe it was a good idea. I gave her my saddest dog eyes and batted my long eye lashes at her, like "Please, not another needle." This was right after the vet stuck a needle in my behind! It hurt, too! When I got home, though, I was all better and ready to play and play Chase with my brother, Manny.

I like Manny. He is a super cool big brother. I want to be just like him. Everything he does, I want to do. Like today, when we got our treats from coming from outside, Manny jumped up on the wall. After he did it, I did it, too. Then, the Mommy told us both not to do that any more. Sometimes, Manny does stuff just to get me in trouble. The Mommy calls him an instigator. Whenever I do something wrong, Manny sits there until the Mommy comes over and asks what is wrong. Manny tells on me with his little dog nods and while he is looking at my boo-boos. Sometimes, he won't even tell the Mommy I did something wrong. He will growl at me himself and tell me not to do that anymore. He usually chases me around the yard then until he catches me, then he gets right in my face and growls at me. It's like he is telling me, "We aren't supposed to do that."

I pick on Manny, too. When I get up in the morning and I am hungry, I make him wake up the Mommy and tell her it is time to eat. I do that by taking my little paws and batting him in the face. Other times I will start pretending I am going to eat his leg like a chicken bone. He does his half yawn, half yelp thing telling me to stop. I guess he thinks I am annoying some times. Then, he goes and tells the Mommy to get up and take us outside. I always go running full speed. Manny lets me run out halfway. I get halfway across the yard, and next thing I know Manny is running ahead of me. He beats me to the fence every time. He might be a lot older than me, but he is super fast. The Mommy told me that my brother, Manny, outran five big dogs at the park once!  They were all chasing him, and none of them caught him. They never mess with him, either. That's why whenever we go for walks, I walk right next to Manny. That way everyone knows he is my brother and that I am part of his pack.

Who Says I'm Old!

I am 10 years old in People years. That's 70 in dog years. I know some people think that's old. They think that when you get past 50 or even 60, then you have to slow down. Not me. I might be 70 in dog years, but I feel like I am the same age as my sister, Mosie, and she is 3 in People years. I can run just as fast and play just as hard as she can.

I remember the first time someone told me I was getting old. I think I was 7 or 8 back then. The Mommy took me to the groomer, and they made her sign a special paper saying she understood that I was a "senior" dog and that I needed special care. I was like, "Senior Dog! What!?" I didn't think I was a senior dog. I still felt like a puppy and looked like a handsome grown up dog on the outside. All the girl dogs and the People told me, too, how handsome I was all the time. In fact, I am still a great looking dog. I'm just getting a few more white hairs on my face.

The Mommy took me home from the groomer that day, and she told me I'm not getting old. She told me that I'm still the best doggie ever, and that we had a lot of fun years left together. That made me feel great! She always knows exactly the right things to say to make me feel better. Somehow, when she said that, I started to feel younger again, like I did when I was 4 or 5. When she walked me and other People asked how old I was, they would say I looked good for my age or how young I looked!

Photo by Jeanette R. Harrison

This year, I turned 10 years old. I have to admit that some days I feel older now. I like to take naps in the warm sunshine, and I like to sleep all day. Those are my hobbies. That's really not that different from before because I have always enjoyed taking big naps and laying in the sun. Even though I don't play with the People as much, I get to run and jump and play in my yard. I love it. I spent a lot of years having to be on a leash every time I went outside because we lived in a yard with no fence. Now, I know that the leash means something special like a walk or a car ride.

Last time I went to the vet, he told me I am getting older now, too. He says I have to take extra special care of my health. Still, he said that I look good for my age. Then, he gave me a shot in my behind! I felt my age on that one because my behind was sore for two days. I know that if I keep going this way and taking care of myself and napping and playing and having fun with my sister, Mosie, I will probably live a long life. I think I am going to live until 20. Some dogs live until they are 25! I have decided that I am not getting old, I am just middle-aged...and I have a lot of adventures left in me.

I Am So Busy!

Oh my goodness! I have had such a busy summer.  Who knew that having a new sister and a new house would take up so much of my time.  You see, I have to teach my new sister to be a good doggie for the people, just like I am.  I have to teach her my doggie ways and show her how to tell when she has to go potty, when she is sleepy, and when she is hungry.  I show her who the good people are and who the strangers are that we should bark at.  A few minutes ago, I was showing her how to get the stuffing out of the toys the Mommy bought us for being good dogs at the groomer.  The Mommy then taught her that was not a nice thing to do and put the toy away.

My new sister, Mosie, is a good dog, but she isn't as smart as me.  I think it's because she is so young. She is too busy playing instead of paying attention.  As soon as she wakes up in the morning, she wants to play with me.  Sometimes, I get grump with her because I just want to take a nap.  Then, I convince her that it is nap time, and we take naps together.  I show her the best blankets to sleep on.

We have all kinds of fun adventures together, too.  We play with our toys in the living room.  Then, we play tug of war with the toys.  The Mommy and the Daddy used to play that game with me, so now I am teaching it to Mosie.  We also play up and down the stairs and around the furniture.  We play that game until the Mommy says, "Dogs!" Sometimes, the Mommy will clap her hands and make a loud noise.  Other times, she will say, "That's enough!" I know that means for Mosie and me to go lay down because we are about to get into trouble. 

We have adventures in the yard, together, too.  One time, I found a nest of baby rabbits.  The Mommy made me leave it alone and go in the house.  She told me that I wasn't allowed to play with them or chase them until they were older.  I had other plans.  The People went on vacation, though, and took Mosie and I with them.  They took us to a place called a cabin at a lake.  It was camping.  In case you don't know what camping is, we went to stay in a really small house.  It had a kitchen and a living room all together in one room.  Then, there was a bathroom.  There was a bedroom for the Mommy and the Daddy and there was a loft, which is a bedroom up a ladder.  Mosie and I slept with the Mommy and the Daddy.  We went for lots of walks at the cabin.  That is how we went potty.  We had to be on our leashes all the time outside.  

The camping was pretty tiring, so my sister and I also took a lot of naps.  She likes to lay by me, and that's okay with me.  She is always a good girl when she is sleeping. 

Pet Dog Skippy by Guest Pet Video Verify

Having grown up in a small town in the South, I knew unquestionably what it felt like to have a pet to be a companion and to give the owner lots of love.  My sister and I were continuously allowed to have a pet even though we were only allowed to have one pet at the time.  During those early years we had no television; therefore, we only had a small radio to help entertain us.  There were many kids in the neighborhood to play with at times, but we still needed a real companion.  This is when pets became so important.  They were provided to entertain us as well as give us never ending love.  Our pets were not allowed to come in our house, and this encouraged us to spend more time playing outside allowing us to get much needed exercise to keep us healthy, keep pets healthy by clicking here.  These pets were absolutely precious to us.  We would have been terribly upset if one of them had wandered away from home and not been located to return home.  The importance of having reliable ways of locating our animals has always been crucial.

     I remember a dog we had named Skippy.  He was a happy dog and loved us with endearing love.  We were outside playing with Skippy when he found a bone from somewhere.  We did not give our dogs small chicken bones as they could choke on one.  All of a sudden Skippy began choking on the bone.  I panicked, but my sister put her hand in his mouth and pulled the bone from his throat.  Needless to say this dog loved my sister more than me after this incident.  He became very protective of her, keep your pets information online by clicking here.  Later Skippy was able to repay my sister for her good deed to save his life.  My cousin and his family from New Jersey was visiting my grandparents one summer.  My grandparents lived down the street from us, and we were playing in the yard along with our dog.  My cousin was approximately three years of age. All of a sudden my sister who was younger than me was sitting on a tricycle when my cousin had a hammer in his hand and was getting ready to hit her in the head from the back.  Skippy saw this and immediately jumped on my cousin knocking the hammer from his hand.  Everyone was very proud of Skippy and knew that he possibly saved her life or from a bad injury.  My parents were exceedingly happy that Skippy was our pet.  He continued to be with us faithfully until his death.  Skippy was one of my pets that I always remembered the most throughout the years.  Part was because of his heroic action and part was his love for his entire family. He was a true friend to all of us.  Skippy would have loved for us to been able to submit and watch funny pet videos here and post cute pet photos for everyone to see here.  Many times when I see people with their pets, I wonder how many had actually help save a life.  Pets help save lives in many ways especially the elderly.  They can prolong their lives and helps prevent depression. These are the reasons they are welcomed to visit in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and retirement homes.  Please someone help us find a better way to find our lost pets, like at this website.

I Have A New Sister!

Hi everybody!  I have been super busy this month.  I got a new sister.  Her name is Mosie Moiselle. She came from a place called the shelter.  She was adopted by the Mommy and the Daddy.  When she first came to our house, she was really excited, but she also didn't feel good.  Right away, she had to get the spayed surgery.  She was sore and laid around a lot the first few days.  I thought, wow, the Mommy and Daddy got another dog who is good at napping like me.

Once she had her stitches out after the spayed surgery, I started seeing what she was really like.  She is  a lot of fun.  She and I play a lot.  I could play with her for hours.  I can hardly believe there was a time that I didn't have a sister.  I feel like it's my job to teach her the ways of our family and also to make her feel welcome.  She has been fitting right in, and we all love her a lot.

She and I share a lot, too.  I try to share my toys with her.  She will play with one end of my stuffed animal, and I will play with the other.  I try to play ball with her, but her mouth is too small to fit around it.  We run and play in the yard.  I think she is making me feel a lot younger.

Even inside, we play and do things together.  She eats out of my bowl, and I eat out of hers.  We know just how much the other dog needs to eat.  If we need to get the Mommy for anything, we both go together. She likes to be around the Mommy a lot, too.  I think it is because she and the Mommy are the only girls in the house.

Today, we saw a rabbit in the yard, and my new sister chased her out of the yard.  I think the rabbit was almost as big as Mosie!  It was exciting.  Mosie is kind of silly, though. She kept trying to chase the rabbit even after it disappeared under the fence.  After we were done playing, the Mommy took us in the house, and now Mosie and I are sleeping by each other on the couch.  I am so glad she came into my life!

I Love the Daddy!

The Daddy does so much for me that I don't even know where to begin.  This morning the Daddy got up and took my new sister and I outside to go potty.  Oh, did I forget to tell you?  The Daddy got me a new sister!  I have always wanted a sister and another doggy in the house.  Now, I have one.  Her name is Mosie Moiselle.  I'm not showing any pictures of her right now because she is wearing the cone.  She has to wear it because she had the spayed surgery.  I remember when I got neutered.  The Mommy and the Daddy took me to see the doggy doctor.  When I woke up, part of me was missing.  I still look for it sometimes.

I know the Daddy will be a good Daddy to my new sister, because he is a good Daddy to me. Before I went to the groomer, the Daddy used to clip my toenails.  I would sit on his lap, and he would clip them.  The Mommy wouldn't do it.  The Mommy would give me my baths, though.  The Daddy also takes me running once in a while.  I think that is why I am such a fast running dog.  When the Mommy and Daddy take me to the dog park, I can outrun almost all the dogs there.  The Daddy laughs and laughs.  I love to hear the Daddy laugh and to see him smile.  I will act silly sometimes just to see a smile on his face.  

Another thing the Daddy does is he protects me from storms.  Last night, there was a big, bad thunderstorm where we live.  It was so bad it broke some trees, and dogs know that trees are very strong.  When it was storming, I snuggled right up next to the Daddy.  He was calm and watching TV. Because he was calm, I knew that I was safe.  I know that with the Daddy and the Mommy around that I will always be safe from storms.  

One of my favorite parts of the day is when I wake up and see the Daddy's face.  He says, "Hey, Manny."  I pretend to still be asleep so that he will play with me.  Then, once he starts saying, "Manny, Manny" and rubbing my belly, I do my stretchies.  All of a sudden, I will jump up and say, "Hello Daddy and Hello World!"  I love waking up every morning and seeing the Daddy and the Mommy.  I also love it when the Daddy comes home from work, so I can tell him all about my day. I jump on him and run around the house to show him just how excited I am to see him every day. 

How Much Dogs Love Their People

Hi everybody! I'm back today.  I had to take a little break.  I have had a lot going on in my doggy world.  First of all, the People got a new house.  That means I got a new yard to play in, too. I have been super busy out exploring my new yards and all the secrets it holds.  I am getting to know the neighbor dogs, too, and chasing the birds.  Birds are so silly. They fly away like they think I am going to eat them.  I'm like, "Hey, Birds, don't you know if I wanted to eat you I would have by now?" They just fly away. My favorite part about my new yard is that it has a fence.  That means that I can play in the yard without wearing my leash. I can run all over the yard and feel free.

I am so happy that the People got me this yard and this new house to live in.  I know they got it just for me, too. I have so much space, and I don't have to hear the neighbors talking in my house. Plus, our new house never smells like smoke all the time, either.  It mostly smells like flowers, food, and cleaning spray.

I like to show the people how thankful I am for my new house.  I give the Mommy and the Daddy cuddles and kisses all the time.  I love snuggling up with them.  One time, the Mommy was laying down, and I licked her forehead.  She thought it was funny.  Sometimes, I put the soft part of my paw on the Mommy's face to let her know that I am there for her.  I love her so much that I don't even let my nails touch her because I don't want to leave a scratch mark on her face.  Another time, I pet the Mommy's hair like she does to me.  Her hair is really long and really soft.  I know I helped her look pretty, just like she helps me look nice when she brushes me.

I'm sorry I am getting distracted now. I got out one of my tennis balls, and I am trying to get the Mommy to play with me.  The ball is stuck under the Mommy's chair, so now I am going to have to try to figure out how to get it out.  I am a smart dog, though, so I know I can do it. I hope everyone else has a great day! I know I will have a fun one in my new yard!

It's the Mommy's Day!

Today is a day called Mommy's Day!  It is all over the United States.  Every single State in the country has Mommy's Day.  The People who live by the ocean, the mountains and even in the desert are celebrating Mommy's Day. 

I spent most of my day today with the Mommy. The Mommy and I slept in really late today.  She didn't even get up until 10:30 in the morning.  That's not like her.  She usually wakes up really early like at 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning.  Then, she lays in bed and checks her phone or waits for the Daddy to wake up. After the Mommy woke up, she went outside and drank her coffee.  I played with her for a little while. I like playing with the Mommy because she laughs and makes things fun.  The Mommy likes to do things outside and likes to play with my toys with me.  We always have a blast together!

After we played outside, the Mommy took a really long bath. She listened to music while she took a bath. She said it was really relaxing.  I'm glad because the Mommy works hard at home all the time. She does a lot at home even though some People may not realize it.  She has to cook breakfast and dinner, do the laundry, wash the dishes, take out the trash, clean the house, take care of me, take care of the Daddy, and all of these other little things that I can't even remember. The Mommy is a busy lady.  Then, she has her job, too.  This week she had days off from her "job", but she still had to do her job at home.  I'm glad she had a relaxing bath.

After her bath, the Mommy played a game on her phone and cleaned up around the house.  That's what she does.  Even when she tries relaxing, she still has to do something at home. It's like she just can't sit still until everything is just right. Now, the Mommy is helping me write about how much I love her and how special she is to me.  I love spending time with her.  I have had a good time having the Mommy all to myself today.

Tonight, the Mommy said she is going to make herself pork chops for dinner!  I love pork chops...but the Mommy and the Daddy won't let me have any.  They always tell me that I am not allowed to eat pork.  She is also going to make mashed potatoes and corn.  It's one of my favorite meals, and one of the Mommy's favorite meals, too.  Maybe she will let me have some...but I doubt it.  Still, getting to sit beside the Mommy while she is here today and spending time with her is the best part.  I love the Mommy so much, and I am so thankful and grateful for all she does for me.

I'm A Busy Dog

Hey, everybody!  I have been so busy that I forgot to write last week.  In case you didn't know it, last weekend was my birthday!  It was the same day as tax day.  I'm not a tax deduction, though, because I'm not a real boy.  The People always treat me like I am a big part of the family, though.

I didn't do anything really special on my birthday this year.  Instead, I am doing a lot of little special things after my birthday.  I have been getting to go for car rides, taking walks, playing with other dogs, playing with the Mommy and the Daddy.  There is a lot going on for me.

The day after my birthday was Easter.  That is the day that we celebrate Jesus and the Easter Bunny. I'm not really sure what the Easter Bunny has to do with Jesus.  I'm confused about that one.  I also am wondering why the Easter Bunny has eggs in his basket.  That is strange to me.  Anyway, I tried to catch the Easter Bunny.  I woke up bright and early.  I thought I even heard him coming into my house.  I ran downstairs as fast as I could.  The Mommy was even laughing at me. When I got to the kitchen where I thought the Easter Bunny was, guess what I found? The Daddy taking things out of bags that the Mommy gets from the store.  I was like, "Where is the Easter Bunny?" The Mommy just laughed at me.

The rest of the week I have been busy, too, because it is Spring Time.  Spring is an important time for me.  I walk around and play outside, and it's time for the animals in the neighborhood to say "hello" to each other.  We don't get to see each other as much in the winter.  Some of the cats and dogs don't come out when it is cold.  We also got a new girl dog in our neighborhood.  She is super cute.  It made me want a little brother or sister even more.  I have been dreaming about having a play mate.

The Mommy and the Daddy have always taken really good care of me and loved me lots.  They make me feel so special and like I am such a great part of the family.  Every morning, I get to see their faces first thing.  At night time, I even take my toys to the People's bed. That way, I can give the toys to the People if they need something to snuggle with.

Today, we had lots of visitors.  I get really excited and bark.  I always think everyone is coming here just to play with me.  The Mommy says, "of course, they are!"

Cats At The Door

I think I have admitted before that I like cats.  I do.  I like them as long as they are not bothering me or interfering with my lifestyle.  They hang around me a lot when I go outside to go potty.  I think it's funny, because there is a chance they might get in the way of me going potty.  I go potty whether the cats are there or not.  Today, one of them walked right up to the door and was looking in at the Mommy.  It was a case of a peeping Tom Cat.

The cats in my neighborhood don't usually look in the back door at the Mommy. They usually hang out on the patio and sit on the Mommy's chairs.  One time, there was cats sitting in all the outside chairs the People usually sit in.  I started jumping on the door to let the Mommy know.  I wanted her to tell those cats that those were the Mommy's chairs.  I tried telling the cats, but they aren't very good listeners sometimes.

Lately, there are these cats that keep hanging out in the front yard by the front door.  That is where I draw the line.  I cannot have cats looking at the People and me in the front door.  By the front door is the place where we sleep and watch TV.  Sleeping and watching TV are two of my favorite hobbies, and I can't have cats interrupting me.  Also, the cats are blocking my view of the squirrels.  I have to keep my eye on the squirrels, too.  Some days, I swear the squirrels are throwing acorns at me on purpose.

When the cats come up to the door in the front, I look down and bark at them and tell them to go away.  Then, I start sniffing at the bottom of the door.  I am trying to make sure they aren't trying to sneak their cat paws under the door. Once those cats get a paw inside the door, they think they can bring their whole bodies inside the door.  I told the cats they cannot hang around the front door. The front door is the People door only.  The Mommy hardly ever lets me go out the front door, either, unless I am on a leash.

One time, I went one foot out the front door and was barking at the mailman, and the Mommy was standing right there.  I was standing right outside the house, right next to the Mommy, and one of the neighbors called the dog catcher on me.  I wasn't even a foot away from my front door! I thought that person was really mean. The neighbor dogs run up and down the street without a leash all the time. Those big German Shepherds come into my yard all the time, still, too.  I even saw the owner walking one of them without a leash down the street.  I don't think I was treated fairly.  At least I got to stay with the Mommy. That's another story for another day.

Anyway, if I can't go out the front door, then no cats can come in the front door. When I go out the back door, I am on my leash.  I am okay with that, though, because the Mommy makes sure I can move with the leash.  It isn't too restricting, but it keeps me in my yard.  When the weather is nice like today, the Mommy goes outside and plays with me while I am on my leash.  Sometimes, she sits on the patio in the chairs.  I jump on her lap, and she pets me.

I Like Things Tidy

I have to admit, I like things a certain way.  The Mommy sometimes calls me an OCD dog.  I have to point out to her whenever anything is out of place.  The Mommy keeps things picked up around here a lot. I help her, too, whenever I can by telling her something is out of place.

When the People take out the trash, they take the plastic bag out and then put it in the big trash can outside.  Sometimes, when the People come back in or before they leave, they don't put another plastic bag in the trash can.  Then, someone throws some trash in there, and it gets stinky really fast. I notice because my doggy nose is sensitive to smells like that.  When I notice there isn't a plastic bag, I tell the Mommy.  I go pat her on the arm, and go sniff at the trash can and then go pat on her arm again.  She understands my hints like that.

Another thing I will do is tell the Mommy if there is a door that is open that shouldn't be open.  As a little dog, sometimes it isn't that safe for me to have doors open to closets or cabinets.  Like if the cabinet where the Mommy keeps my dog food is open, I tell her right away.  I don't want anyone else getting my dog food.  If the cabinets in the kitchen are open, I tell her, too.  I don't want to smell the cleaning supplies and looking at all the dishes just makes me think of food and makes me hungry.  I also tell the Mommy when the closet door where my leash and clothes are kept is open.  I go and sniff the door, and then I go walk up to the Mommy and nod my head.  That is my signal to her to follow me.  She follows me, and I sniff at the door until she closes it.  I'm glad she knows my signals, because when I sniff at the closed door and look over my shoulder at her, that is a hint to her that I want to go outside.

I also tell the Mommy if I made a mess.  Like the other day, I was playing with Tommy Llama and his stuffing came out. I didn't mean to do it.  It was an accident.  Whenever I do something naughty, though, I tell the Mommy right away.  Then, she is usually less mad at me.  I jumped up and tapped her on her leg until she followed me, and then I walked behind her chair.  I showed her that the stuffing was all over the floor.  I gave her Tommy Llama and gave her my look that says, "Fix it, Mommy." After that, she lets me know that she understood, because she says, "Okay, Manny. Mommy will fix it."

I Wish I Could Speak People-Ese

Being a dog is awesome.  I have a great day every day.  Still, there are things that I wish were different in my life with the People.  One of the things that I wish were different is that I wish I could talk the same way they do.  Sometimes, I think they have a hard time understanding me.

Here is a great example.  Sometimes we have what the People call Visitors. Not very often. Yesterday, there was a Lady visitor.  The Lady looked so friendly, and I wanted to play with her.  I didn't know how to tell her that I wanted to play with her, though. I started talking to her like dogs do...I barked.  She started acting strange and worried, like I was going to hurt her.  I was like, no, Lady, I'm not going to hurt you.  I'm welcoming you, and I want to play with you.  She couldn't understand me.

Then, the Mommy picked me up, and I stopped barking.  I tried talking to the Lady again, and the Mommy gave me the "Sush" signal with her hand, which is putting her hand over my mouth.  She told me to let the Lady pet me, and I did.  I liked it.  Her hands were soft.  I started to talk to tell her, but it was more barking. The People don't understand my dog speak.  The Mommy knows some of my words, but some of the other People aren't around me enough.  When the Mommy let me down, I started running to my bed, so I could show the Lady my things.  I wanted to show her my bed and my toys and all of the neat things I play with.  Still, I had to speak to her like dogs do, and she thought I was mad because I was barking.  I wish more People understood my dog speak better.

The Mommy is really good at knowing what my different barks mean.  Like, if I see someone I want to play with, I do two short barks.  The Mommy says it sounds like I am saying, "Hey You, Hey You!" If I'm mad because one of my dog friends walked by and I can't play with them, I will let out a howl.  If there is trouble, and I need the Mommy's attention, I will do a lot of little barks in a row. They sound like, "Help, help, help, there is trouble, trouble.  Help, help, help, there is trouble, trouble."  If some other dog is being mean to me or my People then I do a deep bark and also growl a little.  I hardly ever do that.  When I am excited, I do a high pitched bark.  That's usually when I am excited to meet someone new.

I do that too when I see little kids.  The Mommy always tells me not to bark at the kids.  She says it makes the kids afraid of doggies, and she wants the kids to think I am a nice dog. I want them to think I am a nice dog, too.  I want them to play with me.  I like to run and play.  Still, I don't get too close to the little kids because I don't want to accidentally scratch them or make them afraid of dogs in any way.  I want kids to like all dogs.  Sometimes, the Mommy will say, too, "It's a Baby, Manny." Then, I know not to bark.  I just sit down and let the Baby pass. A Baby is the littlest version of the People.  They are almost the same size as me.

I'm a Healthy Doggy

I had to go see the doggy doctor recently.  I don't mind the doggy doctor. I usually get really excited because I get to see a whole bunch of other animals, mostly dogs like me.  I get to make a bunch of new friends and see how they are with their owners.  Then, I usually get a treat when I am done with the doggy doctor.

The last time, the Mommy put me up on the table.  It was a slippery silver surface.  My legs went out from under me, like I was learning to walk for the first time.  The doggy doctor put a blanket under me so that I could stand up.  I kept looking at the Mommy.  They did all kinds of things and told me that I was fine.  I even got weighed.  It turns out that it's a good thing that I run up and down the stairs and all over the house.  The Mommy also takes me for a lot of walks.  All of that exercise keeps my weight down and keeps me healthy.

I also had to get stuck with sharp pointy things.  I looked at the Mommy when I got stuck with it. One was right in my leg.  It hurt really bad.  It was a big owie.  I even had some blood.  When I saw the Mommy starting to have tears in her eyes, I decided not to cry any more.  I had to be brave for her. I knew if the the Mommy started crying, then I would start crying.  I couldn't have that.

When I was done at the doctor, I came home and got some treats.  The Mommy and the Daddy said they were going to get me a new toy, but they haven't given it to me yet.  I hope it is a good one.  The Mommy always gets me good toys.

I laid down and took a nap with one of my other toys, instead.  I really like my toy, Tommy, and also my favorites are Lambie and Murray. I pretend sometimes that Murray is my little brother.  The Mommy and the Daddy told me they aren't going to be able to get me another little brother until we move somewhere else. I am kind of glad because the other night a big dog came to our back door.  He came right up to our door and wasn't on a leash.  He didn't hurt me or anything.  I think he wanted the Mommy to help him.

I am really looking forward to having a little brother someday.  Maybe I will be the big brother, Manny, or maybe I will be Uncle Manny.  I think they can call me Uncle Manny.  Then, I can show them my doggy ways and how to really love the People as much as the People love me.

I Have Big Dreams

I know I am just a little dog in a medium sized town, but I have big dreams.  I sometimes think it would be fun to be some special dog, like the kind you see in movies or on posters...or on the internet.  The cute dogs that everyone watches their videos over and over again and says, "oh, that's so cute."  Sometimes, I wish that could be me.

I imagine me being in the posters when the Mommy takes me to the groomer, or the groomer asking the Mommy if they can take my picture for their brochure.  I know I would be a handsome dog, and I am really good at having my picture taken.  I have a lot of little expressions.  If you look at me, you can tell I am just totally adorable!

I also thought maybe I could be an actor and play a great part like some of the other famous dogs you see on TV.  Then, I was told that I would have to sit still all day.  I don't know if I can do that on purpose.  I can do it when the Mommy is there, but I don't know if I can do it if I had to.  I heard that those dogs get lots of treats and toys, though.  I definitely would do it for the treats and toys!  I would do anything for that.  Plus, I know I would make the Mommy and Daddy smile and laugh, so I would like that, too.

I heard sometimes, when dogs get famous, they don't get to be real dogs anymore.  People are always stopping wanting to pet them.  They always want to know what you are doing, and they even go by your house just to look at you.  I think that would creep the Mommy out.  She doesn't like people invading her privacy in our house.  That is a no-no.  She is okay if she out walking me.  She likes to show me off to the neighbors how cute I am and what a good dog I am.

I also heard, though, that if you are a big deal with big dreams that you get to travel and go places.  I would love to go on an airplane ride or on a train.  Except I wonder how I would go potty.  That's hard to figure out.  Plus, I have seen on the movies where they put the dogs and cats in cages and make them stay in the bottom of the plane.  That seems scary to me.  I would rather be sitting with the Mommy and the Daddy than in the bottom of the plane with a bunch of cats and dogs I don't know.  It all sounds very exciting.

Still, I am getting some people to notice me through my stories.  I still live in my medium sized town, and a lot of people know who I am.  I don't go out much, but they still pay attention to me and smile whenever they see me.  Having the love of those around me, that's my biggest dream.  I get that every day of my life!

I Have the Fur-Ever Kind of Love

I am so lucky.  I have so many People who love me.  They all love me a lot.  I know that every day that I wake up, they are going to take care of me and be there for me.  They let me outside when I go potty, they give me my food and water, and they always give me lots of hugs.  But, the fur-ever love is more than that.

I feel the Fur-Ever love in the mornings when the Mommy wakes up and smiles at me, and says, "Hey Manny."  I feel it when she says good morning to my favorite upstairs toy, Murray.  I feel it when we come downstairs and sometimes I don't want to go out and go potty.  The Mommy then goes outside first to show me that it warm enough for dogs and potties.  I feel the love when the Mommy lets me sit on her lap when she is working.  I feel it when she plays with me in the living room, sings to me, dances with me, and talks to me.  I feel it when she lets me lay on her lap at night when I am watching TV with the People.

Another way I can feel the Mommy's fur-ever love is in the way she talks to me.  She makes sure that I am a good doggie, and she tells me when I am a good doggie and when I am a naughty doggie.  I try to be a good dog all the time, but sometimes I do thinks I shouldn't do.  Like one day, I went upstairs and started playing with the toilet paper roll, and the toilet paper was all over the bathroom.  The Mommy tries to get mad at me, and says "Manny, that is naughty!" She ends up laughing some too, though.  She thought it was funny to see toilet paper all over the bathroom.

The Mommy lets me sleep with her in the bed, too.  That's another way I can tell she loves me.  She treats me like I am part of her pack.  She doesn't make me sit by myself in one room unless I want to. Since I have gotten older, I have started playing upstairs by myself.  The Mommy doesn't care.  It's my way of telling her, too, that I know that I am safe when she is around, and I am comfortable playing anywhere.

Sometimes, I will come down the stairs and put my face between the railing to say, the Mommy, please come upstairs and play with me.  She will sometimes come upstairs, but usually she tells me to come downstairs.  Then, I run around the living room and play with my downstairs toys.  Mostly I know the Mommy loves me because of the look in her eyes she gives me.  She talks about me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, too.  I am always on her mind.  I don't care that she talks about me, because I am her dog, I am part of her pack, and mostly I am part of her family. I know that she loves me fur-ever, too.

Everybody Loves Me!

I know that everybody loves me.  The reason I know is that the Mommy tells me that they do.  She will say, "Daddy loves you, Mommy loves you, the Boy loves you, the dogs love you, even someone who doesn't like dogs loves you."  She says things like that to me all the time.  She is funny because she will say randomly nice things like that.  Like, sometimes when she gets mad and is yelling, she says something really nice to someone in an angry tone.  I try not to laugh, but it is funny.  Like one time, she was mad at someone and said, "How can you say you don't have any friends?  I would be your friend. You should have lots of friends!" That was funny.

The Mommy also tells me that I am the Cutest Cutie who ever cutied.  I love it when she says things like that.  I think she gets that from the Boy and the Daddy. They are always saying how handsome they are to each other, so she says that I am cute, too.  If I was a person, I would compliment the Mommy, but I can't talk. I have tried to talk before.  Sometimes, I can make my words sound like the People's words, but other times I really struggle.  It's hard for dogs to talk like people. I will try it again some time and put it on my blog.

As for the Mommy getting compliments, the People only compliment her when she does something they want.  It's not like, "I like your outfit" or anything just out of the blue.  They make her work for every little thing.  They like my dog blog, a lot. People tell her all the time that they like "Manny's blog".  I make sure to give the Mommy compliments by licking her face, snuggling with her in her chair, sitting on her lap, and showing her with my smile how much I love being around her every day. I love waking up and seeing the Mommy first thing in the morning, and I love so many things we do together.  When we are the park, I love being her "wing dog," so the People will talk to her and say how cute I am.  Of course, the Mommy loves to talk, so they end up talking up about other things than their dogs, too.

The Mommy also likes to dance with me a lot.  When there is a fun song on, she will pick me up and dance with me all around.  I love it!  It's my favorite when the Mommy dances with me.  Sometimes, she sings to me, too.  I just cock my head and listen to her all the time.  I love it when she sings to me, like I am the most important dog in the world.  She tells me a lot, too, that I am the best doggie who ever lived.  I know I'm not the best doggie who ever lived, but I love to hear the Mommy tell me.

She also does tell me that I stink sometimes, too.  Yesterday, she told me that I smelled like dirt and Doritos and poop.  I laughed.  I think it's funny when the People think that dogs are stinky. She calls me a Stinky Stinkerson when I smell really bad.  I think that I smell good.  The People put flowers on their skin to smell good. We dogs just roll in them.

She also calls me a Chubby Chubberson sometimes, too.  It doesn't hurt my feelings at all.  She will say, "No, Manny, you can't have a chip.  Look at you.  You are getting chubby.  You don't want to be chubby like Mommy."  Then, she will rub my belly, and scratch my neck.  I really love it when she scratches my neck. She does that because she knows she can get a smile from me every time. The Mommy is so funny with all the cute little names she calls me.

The Mommy Takes Care of Me

Today, I have been mostly laying on my bed while the Mommy works on the computer. The Mommy told me I needed to lay down because I had an icky tummy this morning. I was sick, and she took care of me. She always takes care of the Daddy and I when we are sick.

Because I am sick, I get special things. Today, the Mommy fed me ice cubes out of her hands.  She also moved my bed to the kitchen, which is right by her desk. Usually my bed is by the Mommy's chair in the living room. My upstairs bed is by the Mommy's and Daddy's bed in their bedroom. She also gave me rice.  Rice is easy on the tummy for dogs. I am starting to feel better already. I hope I can convince her that I am feeling better so she will take me on a walk today.

The Mommy also takes care of other dogs, and some cats, too. Whenever dogs would get loose in our neighborhood, they would come sit by our back door. The Mommy always said it was because of me. She said that I had something special that made them to come to our house. She is right. I do have something special...the Mommy. All the dogs and cats know that if they are sick or in trouble, they can come to the Mommy's side, and she will help them.

The other day, the dog next door got loose and followed the Mommy and I all over the neighborhood on our walk. The Mommy kept walking toward our house, and the dog next door followed her.That's because that dog and I play together all the time.

The Mommy has helped lots of dogs when they were sick, too. One time, a dog was cut at his owner's house. The owner lied and said he ran into a fence post. I don't think that was true. The dog walked right up to the Mommy, and the Mommy saw that he was bleeding. She went to get someone to help her take him to the doggie doctor. Then, the Mommy sat with the dog the whole time and covered his sore and made him feel better. She let him know that someone cared about him and wanted him to get better. The Mommy is really good like that. She lets people and animals know she is there for them.

I love having the Mommy around. I love having the Mommy take care of me. She is so good at making everyone feel better. It's like I get better in a day every time, and then I am back to myself. Because of that, I am not scared when I get sick any more.

I know it will be over soon, and I will back at the park playing with my dog friends.